Apparatus and method for the surface treatment of objects

Abstract

An apparatus ( 1 ) for the surface treatment of objects ( 2 ), comprising a drum ( 3 ) having a peripheral zone ( 3 b ); a plurality of gripping elements ( 4 ) disposed in the peripheral zone ( 3 b ) of the drum ( 3 ) and configured to each receive a respective object ( 2 ) to be treated; printing means ( 5 ) associated with the drum ( 3 ) and comprising at least one print head ( 6 ), the head ( 6 ) being positionable in front of the gripping elements ( 4 ) in order to print on an object ( 2 ); the printing means ( 5 ) are configured to print on a lateral surface ( 2 a ) and on a base surface ( 2 b ) of the caps ( 2 ) on the same drum ( 3 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus ( 1 ) for the surface treatment of objects ( 2 ), each comprising at least a lateral surface ( 2   a ) and a base surface ( 2   b ) that are differently oriented relative to each other, wherein at least said lateral surface ( 2   a ) extends around an axis of extension ( 2   c ) of said object ( 2 ),
 said apparatus comprising: 
 a drum ( 3 ) suitable for rotating around a central axis (A); 
 a plurality of gripping elements ( 4 ) disposed on said drum ( 3 ) and configured to each receive and retain a respective object ( 2 ) to be treated; 
 printing means ( 5 ) operatively associated with said drum ( 3 ) and comprising at least one print head ( 6 ,  6   a ,  6   b ), said print head ( 6 ,  6   a ,  6   b ) being positionable in front of said gripping elements ( 4 ) at a printing station ( 17 ,  17   a ,  17   b ) in order to print a specific motif on the lateral surface ( 2   a ) and/or on the base surface ( 2   b ) of an object ( 2 ) associated with a respective gripping element ( 4 ); 
 drive means configured to generate a relative motion between said object ( 2 ) associated with the respective gripping element ( 4 ) and said at least one print head ( 6 ,  6   a ,  6   b ) during printing on said lateral surface ( 2   a ) and/or said base surface ( 2   b ) of an object ( 2 ), 
 a control unit ( 7 ) operatively connected to said printing means ( 5 ) and/or said drive means, said control unit ( 7 ) being programmed to control, on the same drum ( 3 ), both printing on the lateral surface ( 2   a ) and the base surface ( 2   b ) of said objects ( 2 ), 
 wherein said gripping elements ( 4 ) comprise a plurality of horizontal gripping elements ( 4   a ) which are radially disposed relative to said drum ( 3 ) and evenly distributed around said central axis (A) with a constant angular pitch equal to a first angle (α) and an identical plurality of vertical gripping elements ( 4   b ) evenly distributed around said central axis (A) and alternating with said horizontal gripping elements ( 4   a ), preferably at a distance equal to half of said first angle (α). 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said control unit ( 7 ) comprises an actuation module ( 9 ) configured to activate said drive means and generate a relative movement between said print head ( 6 ,  6   a ,  6   b ) and said object ( 2 ) associated with the respective gripping element ( 4 ) based on the position and/or orientation of said objects ( 2 ) at a printing station ( 17 ,  17   a ,  17   b ). 
     
     
       3. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein said control unit ( 7 ) comprises a processing module ( 10 ) configured to send to said actuation module ( 9 ) a signal (A 1 ) representing a relative movement between said print head ( 6 ,  6   a ,  6   b ) and said object ( 2 ) associated with the respective gripping element ( 4 ), said signal (A 1 ) being sent based on the position and/or orientation of said objects ( 2 ) at a printing station ( 17 ,  17   a ,  17   b ). 
     
     
       4. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 3 , wherein said control unit ( 7 ) comprises a sensor module ( 8 ) configured to detect the passage of a base surface ( 2   a ) and/or a lateral surface ( 2   b ) of said object ( 2 ) in front of said print head ( 6 ,  6   a ,  6   b ), acquire a signal (S 1 ) representing the presence of an object ( 2 ) associated with a respective gripping element ( 4 ) at a printing station ( 17 ,  17   a ,  17   b ) and send said signal ( 51 ) to said processing module ( 10 ). 
     
     
       5. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein said drive means comprise means ( 11 ) for moving said print head ( 6 ,  6   a ,  6   b ) and wherein said actuation module ( 9 ) is configured to actuate said means ( 11 ) for moving said head ( 6 ) during printing in particular on said base surface ( 2   b ). 
     
     
       6. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein said drive means comprise means for advancing ( 12 ) said drum ( 3 ), said actuation module ( 9 ) being configured to actuate said advancing means ( 12 ) during printing in particular on said base surface ( 2   b ). 
     
     
       7. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 6 , wherein said at least one print head ( 6 ,  6   a ,  6   b ) is fixed relative to a central axis (A) of the drum ( 3 ). 
     
     
       8. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , wherein at least one gripping element ( 4 ) comprises a spindle ( 18 ) suitable for rotating around a respective axis of rotation (X), said spindle ( 18 ) being configured to receive and retain said object ( 2 ), with said axis of extension ( 2   c ) coinciding with said axis of rotation (X), and wherein said drive means comprise means ( 20 ) for activating the rotation of said spindle ( 18 ) and which are suitable for setting said object ( 2 ) in rotation around the axis of extension ( 2   c ) thereof, said actuation module ( 9 ) being configured to actuate said rotation activating means ( 20 ) during printing in particular on said lateral surface ( 2   a ). 
     
     
       9. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , comprising at least one additional print head ( 6   b ) which is disposed and configured so as to print a specific motif on the base surface ( 2   b ) of the object ( 2 ), said additional print head ( 6   b ) being different from said at least one print head ( 6   a ) disposed and configured so as to print a specific motif on the lateral surface ( 2   a ) of the object ( 2 ), wherein said actuation module ( 9 ) is configured to actuate said means ( 11 ) for moving said additional print head ( 6   b ) during printing on said base surface ( 2   b ). 
     
     
       10. The apparatus ( 9 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein said means ( 11 ) for moving said additional print head ( 6   b ) are configured so as to move said additional print head ( 6   b ) vertically. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , and wherein a first angle (α) defined between two consecutive horizontal gripping elements ( 4   a ) is different from a second angle (β) defined between said at least one print head ( 6   a ) which is disposed and configured so as to print a specific motif on the lateral surface ( 2   a ) of the object ( 2 ) and the additional print head ( 6   b ) disposed and configured so as to print a specific motif on the base surface ( 2   b ) of the objects ( 2 ) retained by the horizontal gripping elements ( 4   a ). 
     
     
       12. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , wherein a first angle defined between two consecutive horizontal gripping elements ( 4   a ) is equal to a second angle (( 3 ) defined between said at least one print head ( 6   a ) which is disposed and configured so as to print a specific motif on the lateral surface ( 2   a ) of the object ( 2 ) and the additional print head ( 6   b ) disposed and configured so as to print a specific motif on the base surface ( 2   b ) of the objects ( 2 ) retained by the horizontal gripping elements ( 4   a ). 
     
     
       13. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 2 , comprising at least one additional print head ( 6   b ) which is disposed and configured so as to print a specific motif on the base surface ( 2   b ) of the object ( 2 ), said additional print head ( 6   b ) being different from said at least one print head ( 6   a ) disposed and configured so as to print a specific motif on the lateral surface ( 2   a ) of the object ( 2 ), wherein said actuation module ( 9 ) is configured to actuate said means ( 12 ) for advancing the drum ( 3 ) during printing on said base surface ( 2   b ). 
     
     
       14. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a same print head ( 6 ), which is disposed and configured so as to print a specific motif on the lateral surface ( 2   a ) of objects ( 2 ) retained by the horizontal gripping elements ( 4   a ), is moreover disposed and configured so as to print a specific motif on the base surface ( 2   b ) of objects ( 2 ) retained by the vertical gripping elements ( 4   b ). 
     
     
       15. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein said control unit ( 7 ) comprises an actuation module ( 9 ) configured to activate said drive means and generate a relative movement between said print head ( 6 ,  6   a ,  6   b ) and said object ( 2 ) associated with the respective gripping element ( 4 ) based on the position and/or orientation of said objects ( 2 ) at a printing station ( 17 ,  17   a ,  17   b ),
 wherein said actuation module ( 9 ) is configured to actuate means ( 11 ) for moving said print head ( 6 ) during printing on said base surface ( 2   b ) of the objects ( 2 ) retained by the vertical gripping elements ( 4   b ). 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 15 , wherein said means ( 11 ) for moving said print head ( 6 ) are configured so as to move said print head ( 6   a ) horizontally. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 14 , wherein said control unit ( 7 ) comprises an actuation module ( 9 ) configured to activate said drive means and generate a relative movement between said print head ( 6 ,  6   a ,  6   b ) and said object ( 2 ) associated with the respective gripping element ( 4 ) based on the position and/or orientation of said objects ( 2 ) at a printing station ( 17 ,  17   a ,  17   b ),
 wherein said actuation module ( 9 ) is configured to actuate means ( 12 ) for advancing the drum ( 3 ) during printing on said base surface ( 2   b ) of the objects ( 2 ) retained by the vertical gripping elements ( 4   b ). 
 
     
     
       18. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising a changeover member ( 14 ) associated with said gripping elements ( 4 ) and said drum ( 3 ) and which is configured to transfer an object ( 2 ) from said horizontal gripping element ( 4   a ) to said vertical gripping element ( 4   b ) or vice versa. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one print head ( 6   a ) is disposed and configured so as to print a specific motif on the lateral surface ( 2   a ) of the object ( 2 ), said apparatus ( 1 ) further comprising at least one additional print head ( 6   b ), which is disposed and configured so as to print a specific motif on the base surface ( 2   b ) of the object ( 2 ), said additional print head ( 6   b ) being different from said at least one print head ( 6   a ), said object being constantly associated with and held by the same gripping element ( 4 ). 
     
     
       20. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said control unit ( 7 ) comprises a processing module ( 10 ) which is configured to control said printing means ( 5 ) so that they perform the printing based on the position and/or the orientation of said objects ( 2 ) at a printing station ( 17 ,  17   a ,  17   b ). 
     
     
       21. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of said print heads ( 6 ,  6   a ,  6   b ) located along the trajectory followed by the gripping elements ( 4 ) in the rotating motion of the drum ( 3 ) around the central axis (A), preferably in a peripheral zone ( 3   b ) of said drum ( 3 ), and each defining a respective printing station ( 17 ,  17   a ,  17   b ). 
     
     
       22. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein said print head ( 6 ,  6   a ,  6   b ) is configured to print simultaneously on at least two objects ( 2 ). 
     
     
       23. The apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 1 , wherein the printing means ( 5 ) are configured to print on a lateral surface ( 2   a ) and on a base surface ( 2   b ) of the objects ( 2 ) on the same drum ( 3 ).